The Wall Street Journal is reporting that during afternoon arguments Wednesday, liberal Supreme Court justices have peppered Paul Clement -- the lawyer for state challengers to the law -- with pointed questions about his argument that the law unfairly coerces states into expanding Medicaid program.

Clement made it about ten seconds into his argument before being cut off by Justice Elena Kagan. "Why is a big gift from the federal government a matter of coercion?" she asked, the Journal reported. "It's just a boatload of federal money. It doesn't sound coercive to me, let me tell you."

Kagan went on to compare Clement's argument to her offering him $10 million to come work for her. Would he refuse that?

Clement said he would want to know where the money came from, prompting Justice Kagan to reply, "Wow. Wow!"

The conservative justices stayed mostly silent during the discussion, but Chief Justice John Roberts noted that states may have already given up some independence by agreeing to take federal Medicaid funds over the past 40 years.